Europe 1 with AFP 4:36 p.m., November 20, 2022

On the 270th day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the two countries mutually accuse each other of new bombardments on the Zaporijjia power station, located in southern Ukraine and militarily occupied by the Russian army.

Emmanuel Macron spoke to him on Sunday with the director general of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, on the situation.

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Russia and Ukraine accused each other on Sunday of having bombed the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, located in southern Ukraine and militarily occupied by the Russian army.

"The kyiv regime continues to provocation to create the threat of a disaster at the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia", the largest in Europe, said the Russian Ministry of Defense in a statement.

On Saturday and Sunday, Ukrainian forces fired more than 20 "large caliber shells" at the plant, the statement said.

These notably exploded between energy blocks number 4 and 5 and targeted the roof of a "special building" located near these blocks, according to the same source.

The main information:

- Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of bombing Zaporizhia power plant

- Ukraine's nuclear agency has accused Russia of bombing the plant site.

- Emmanuel Macron talks with the head of the IAEA

nuclear fuel depot

This “special building” notably houses a nuclear fuel depot, said an official of the Russian nuclear electricity producer, Rosenergoatom, Renat Kartchaa, quoted by the official TASS agency.

Despite these bombings, "the level of radiation in the area of ​​the plant remains within the norm", underlines the press release.

For its part, the Ukrainian nuclear agency accused Russia of having bombed the site of the plant.

"This morning of November 20, 2022, following heavy Russian bombing, at least 12 strikes were recorded at the site of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant," Energoatom said, accusing the Russians of "once again organizing a nuclear blackmail and put the whole world in danger".

"Powerful explosions", according to the director of the IAEA

The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, made him state Sunday of the "powerful explosions" which occurred in this sector.

"The information is extremely disturbing. Explosions have occurred at the site of this major nuclear power plant, which is totally unacceptable," he said in a statement.

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Russia, which has been leading an offensive in Ukraine since February 24, is militarily occupying the territory of the power plant and Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed its annexation, as well as that of four Ukrainian regions.

For several months, Moscow and kyiv have accused each other of bombardments on the site, under Russian control but located not far from the front line.

Macron speaks with the head of the IAEA

Emmanuel Macron spoke with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on Sunday about the situation at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, which Moscow and kyiv accuse each other of having bombed, the IAEA said. Elysium.

After this interview, the French president "will probably speak this afternoon" to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said the presidency.